Steam separator



1 632,280 June 9 F. F. EMORY A STEAM SEPARATOR Filed May 29. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet l Hume/5' E Em org, 7

' 3w entoz Jun; 14, 1-927.

- 1,632,280 I F. F. EMORY STEAM SEPARATOR 2 Sheets-Sheep 2 Filed May 29. 1926 Patented June 14, 1927.

UNITED; STATES:

FRANCIS F. EMORY, OF LEOMINSTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

STEAM SEPARATOR.

Application filed May 29,

This invention appertains generally to safety steam separators and has more particular reference to new and useful improvements in such separators of this character primarily designed for association with steam turbines and engines or which may be used in any place where dry steam is used to advantage.

lhe primary object of the present invention is to provide such an improved separator of the above character which will i11- tercept and collect the water in the steam being supplied to the turbine or engine so that the flooding of the said turbine or engine will be prevented.

Another object of the present invention is to provide such a separator of the above character having incorporated therewith new and novelmeans operating to automatically cut oil the supply of steam to the turbine 0r engine when the water within the said separator reaches a predetermined height.

Another object of the present invention is to provide such a separator of the above character having means for automatically permittingthe water to be drained therefrom simultaneously with the cutting off of the supply of steam to the turbine or engine;

A further object of the present invention is the provision of novel and simplified means associated with the separator for automatically stopping the tubine or engine when the said turbine or engine exceeds a predetermined speed.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide such an improved separator of the above character which, while simple in construction, is nevertheless strong, sturc y and durable, practical and efiicierrt in its operation, and well designed for the purposes for which it is intended.

lVith these and other objects in view, the invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts to be more fully hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings forming a part of this application and wherein like characters of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a vertical cent'al sectional view through an improved steam separator constructed in accordance with the presentinvent-ion. 1

1926. Serial no. 112,632. a

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1-.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure tis a detail sectional view through a portion of the steam outlet pipe and the valve casing carried thereby showing the construction of the valve contained the-rewit hin.

Referringv now more in detail to the accompanying drawings wherein for the purpose of illustrationhas been disclosed a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the numeral 10 generally indicates the stean'i receiving and separating housing which includes in its construction a cylindrical side wall 11 closed at its lower endby the concavo-convex bottom wall 12 secured within and to the said cylindrical side wall 11 immediately adjacent the lower end thereof through the medium of suitable bolts or other fastening elements 13.

The bottom wall 12 is provided with a centrally disposed outlet opening and surrounding this opening is an internally threaded depending collar 141 which is adapted to be connected with the steam turbine or engine with which the present invention might be associated. Threadedly received within the said collar 14 is the lower end of the vertically arranged steam outlet pipe 15, the upper end thereof being some what enlarged to constitute a circular valve casing 16, the provision of which results in the formation of a stop shoulder 17, the function of which will be more fully set forth hereinafter. The upper portion of the circular side wall of the valve casing 16 is provided with a plurality of steam inlet openings 18 while the upper end thereof is closed by a cover plate 19 removably secured in position by suitable screws or the like 20.

The cylindrical side wall 11 of the separator housing 10 is further formed adjacent its upper end with a steaminlet opening 21 and surrounding this opening is a collar 23 secured to the said side wall 11 by suitable fastening bolts or the like 22, said collar adapted to be. connected with a suitable source of steam. Thus, it will be seen that the present device is arranged to be positioned between the source of steam and the turbine or engine with which it is associated. Also secured to the cylindrical side wall 11 immediately adjacent the upper end thereof is a ring 24 provided with the right angularly directed horizontal flange 25 to which is removably secured the top wall or cover plate 26 throughthe medium of boltsor the like 27.

The cover plate 26 is provided with a centrally disposed opening through which is slidably received the vertically arranged pipe 28, theupper end of which communicates with the atmosphere while the lower end thereof is secured to and communicates with the horizontal pipe 29. intermediate the ends thereof, said horizontal pipe 29 being closed at its opposite ends. Carried by andcommunicating with the horizontal pipe 29 adjacent the opposite ends thereof are the depending pipes 30 and 31, said pipes supporting and communicating at their lower ends with a float 32 which encircles the steam outlet pipe 15. it will 01 course be appreciatedthat the vertical pipes 30 and 31 may be secured to the horizontal pipe 29 and to the float 32 in any desired manner so that I do not wish to be limited to any particular manner of securing these parts together. Carried by and depending from the horizontal pipe 29 in vertical aliuement with thepipe 28 is a valve stem 33 to the lower end of which is secured the ring valve 35 by means of the cross bars or spider 3a, said valve 35 being slidably received within the valve casing 16 and adapted at times to close the openings 13 therein as will be more clearly set forth in the operation of the invention.

The pipe 28 extends upwardly through the cover plate 26 and stu'llingbox 36 :arried thereby and has connected to its outer end, one end of a cable or other flexible element 37, said cable being trained about the pulleys 38 and 3.9 and carrying at its opposite end a weight 40 which is normally supported upon and by a platform 41 hinged as at 42. The free end of the pltltl olll'l 41 is provided with a lip 43 and engaging said lip and serving to retain the platt'orm 41 in a horizontal position is a supporting member 44 pivotaliy mounted as at 45. Carried by the supporting member 414E is a link d6 which isadapted to be connected with the governor or other desired part of the steam turbine orengine with which the separator is associated. a V

Secured to the bottom surlace of the cover plates 26 by suitable securing bolts or the like at? is an annular shield or deflector 48 arranged to encircle the valve casing 16 said shield being positioned directly in advance of the steam inlet opening 21 so as to deflect downwardly the steam entering therethrough. Pivota-lly connected to the float 32 as at 4:9 are the diameterically disposed depending links 50 and 51 to the lower ends of which are pivotally connected the opposite ends of the arcuately curved bracket arm 52, said arm being provided intermediate its ends with an outwardly projecting leg 53 reduced at its free end and'pivotally secured as at 5% between the spaced ears 5-5 carried by the cylindrical side wall 11 ot' the separator housing 10.

The bottom wall 12 of the separator housing 10 is formed at one point with an enlargement 56 provided with a valve casing 57 which extends upwardly within the separator housing 10 and is formed with a plurality of openings 58 communicating with the interior thereof. The lower end of the said valve casing 57 is closed by a plate 59 iaving an opening therein disposed centrally 01": said valve casing, the upper edge 0]": said opening being beveled to provide a valve seat 60 for the valve 61, said valve being carried by i the vertically disposed valve stem 62 which projects upwardly through and beyond the valve casing 57; The upper end oi the valve in 62 is slightly reduced in diameter as at 63 and extends through the leg 53 of the bracket arm 52 and is secured to the free end of the leaf spring 64L, said spring secured at its opposite end to the said leg 53 as at 65. Encircling the valve stem 62 within the valve casing 57 is an expansion coil spring 66, the lower end thereof bearing against the valve 61 and normally urging the same downwardly into closed position. The plate 59 is secured in position by suitable screws or other fastening elements 67 and these screws also pass through the annular flange 68 formed on the upper end of the drain pipe 69 whereby to secure the said drain pipe in position in alinement with the valve casing 57.

The stuiiing box 36 hereinabove referred to and through which the vertical pipe 28 passes comprises in its construction an annular collar 70 carried by the cover plate 26 and surrounding the said pipe 28, said collar being provided at its upper end with an annular flange T1. Threaded within the collar 70 is a nut 72, said nut being also formed at its upper end with an annular flange 73 and passing through the said flanges 71. and 7 3 are suitable screws or the like 74. Positioned within the collar 70 between the nut 72 and thecover plate 26 is a sulficient amount oi suitable packing 75 and the nut 72 may be adjusted inwardly or outwardly relative to the said cover plate according to the amount of packing within said collar.

In the operation of the invention, the various parts normally assume the positions shown in Figure 1 of the drawings so that the steanr is permitted to enter the separating housing 10 through the inlet opening 21. As the steam enters therethrough, it will be deflected downwardly by the shield 48 and the water within the steam will col- Fill engine with which the separator associated.

lVhen the water within the housing reaches a predetermined leveh-the float 32 will be moved upwardly and the bracket arm 52 will also be swung upwardly about its pivot 5el whereupon the valve 61 will be moved away from its seat so that the water within the housing will be permitted to pass outwardly thereof through the openings 58 in the valve casing 57 into and through the drain pipe 69. Thus, a certain amount of water can be drained from the housing without affecting the operation of the turbine or engine but should the amount of water within the housing be so great that it would not freely drain through the openings 58, the float 32 will be further raised and thevalve 35 moving upwardly therewith will close the openings 18 in the valve casing 16 whereby to prevent any more steam from passing therethrough and also serving to prevent the water from passing through the pipe 15 and flooding the turbine or engme.

As the water within the housing 10 is drained therefrom, the float 32 will gravitate to its lowered position and the valve 35 will also gravitate to its lowered position so as to uncover the openings 18 whereupon the steam will again be permitted to pass there through to the turbine or engine. The stop shoulder 17 serves to limit the downward movement of the said ring valve 35. Upon the raising of the float 32, the valve 61 will naturally be raised from its seat 60 but the spring 6-1 acts to further raise the said valve so as to prevent the cutting thereof.

As stated above, the link as is arranged to be connected with the governor or any other desired part of the turbine or engine and when the speed of the said turbine or engine exceeds a predetermined point, the supporting I member H is adapted to be swung on its pivot 45 so as to release the platform 41 which will then drop downwardly to release the weight 40. This weight will act to draw the pipe 28 and the parts associated therewith upwardly so that the valve 35 will close the openings 18 in the valve casing 16 and thus prevent the passage of steam therethrough to the turbine or engine. A suitable hand hold 76 is carried by the cable 37 for lifting the weight 10 or testing the separator.

From the foregoing, it is believed that the construction and operation of the improved separator will be readily understood and it will be appreciated that the present device serves not only to separate and collect the water in the steam but further o'perates to automatically drain the water from the separator when the same reaches a" predetermined level and also acts to stop the turbine or engine when the said turbine or engine exceeds a predetermined speed.

It is also to be understood that while there has been disclosed one practical embodiment of the present invention which will accomplish all of the objects and perform all of the functions claimed, that changes in the details of construction may be resorted to without departing from or sacrificing the spirit of the invention so long as such changes fall within the scope of the appended claims,

That is claimed is:

1. A separator structure of the character described, comprising a casing having an inlet adjacent the top thereof, a discharge pipe extending vertically within said casing and opening toward the lower portion thereof and having the upper end thereof formed to set up a plurality of apertures, a sliding valve within the upper portion of said pipe, a float element within the easing having connection with said valve to raise the same upon the rise of water in the casing, to close the said apertures, and means for draining water from said casing.

52. A separator-of the character set forth comprising a casing having an inlet adjacent its upper endthereof, an outlet pipe mounted vertically within the casing and opening through the lower portion thereof, said pipe being of substantially half the length of the casing and having the upper end covered and provided with a plurality of apertures formed through the wall thereof, a sliding valve ring arranged within the upper end of 1 said pipe and adapted to open or close said apertures, a stem projecting through thetop of said pipe and connected with the valve, a float element within the casing having the connection with said stem and operating the valve ring upon the rise of water within the casing to a pre-determined height, and a drain for the casing opened by the rise of said float.

3'. A separator of the character set forth, comprising a casing having an inlet adja cent the upper end thereof, an outlet pipe mounted vertically Within the casing and opening through the lower portion thereof, said pipe being of substantially half the length of the casing and having the upper end covered and provided with a plurality of apertures formed through the wall thereof, a sliding valve ring within the up per end of said pipe and adapted to open or close said apertures, a stem projecting through the top of said pipe and connected to the valve ring, a float element within the casing and having connection With said stem and operating the Valve ring upon the rise of water within the casing to a predetermined height, a drain for the casing opened by the rise of said float, and means connected with said float, and operated exteriorly of the casing, to shift the float to valve closed position.

4. A steam separator of the character described comprising a casing having a steam inlet at the upper point thereof, a. steam discharge pipe extending vertically in said casing havingopenings through the bottom thereof, said pipe having the upper end thereof closed and formed of greater dianr etert'han the lower portion, said portion of greater diameter having the wall thereof provided with a plurality of apertures, a valve ring within the apertured portion of said pipe engaging the inner wall thereof and designed to be shifted to open or close said apertures, a stem projecting through the top of said large portion and connected to said valve ring, a float connected to said valve stem and operated by water rising in said casing to close said apertures. a valve controlled drain passage extending from the lower portion of said casing, and means connected to and operated by said float to open or close said valve passage.

5. A steam separator of the character described, comprising a casing having a steam inlet at the upper part thereof, a steam dis charge pipe extending vertically in said cas ing and opening through the bottom thereof, said pipe having the upper end thereof closed and formed of greater diameter than the lower portion, said portion of greater diameter having the wall thereof provided with a plurality of apertures, a valve ring within the apertured portion of said pipe engaging the inner wall thereof and designed to be shifted to open or closesaid apertures, a stem projecting through the top of said enlarged portion and connected to said valve ring, a float connected to said valve stem and operated by water rising in said casing to close said apertures, a valve connected to a drain passage extending from the lower portion of said casing, an actuating arm associated with the valve of the said drain and having pivotal connection with the Wall of said casing, and link connecting means between said actuatingarm and said float, through the medium of which link and ing, said casing arranged vertically therein and opening through the lower portion of the casing, said pipe having its upper end closed and having the Wall at the upper end formed with a plurality of openings, a valve ring ithin the upper end of said pipe formed to engage the wall thereof and adapted to be shifted to open or close the opening therebetween, a float element Witl1- in the casing actuated by the rise or fall of water collected therein, connecting means between said float and said valve ring for causing the float and ring to move simultaneously, a drain means for said casing, and means associated with said float Whereby the same may be caused by a force located exteriorly of the casing, to be raised to bring about the closing of said openings.

7. A steam separator of the character set forth, a casing body .l1avi11g a steam inlet adjacent the upper part thereof, a steam discharge passage opening through the lower portion of said casing, a valve structure controlling said passage, a float element within the casing operated by the water collected therein and, having connection with said valve for control. of the same, water outlet means leading from the lower portion of said casing, a valve controlling said outlet having a stem projecting into the casing, an arm niemberpivoted to the wall of the casing and having link connection at one end with said float member, and a resilient connection between the inner end of said valve stem and said-arm, whereby the valve of the outlet passage may be moved simultaneously with the moving of said float, to open or close the passage.

In testimony whereof I aliix my signature.

FRANCIS F. lillvilOlftYv 

